Hi Ladies,
I trust that the Spirit encouraged you this past week with the incredible hope we have in our God! But we can quickly lose sight of it. It’s something Paul knew he needed to pray for the believers in Ephesus. And it’s certainly something we should continue to pray for as well.
But that is not all Paul prayed for. We’re looking this week at the second “sight” he wants them - and us - to see. But because context is so important for right understanding, read the entire prayer again:
“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Eph. 1:15-23
Read that bold section again slowly: “what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Scripture, especially the New Testament, is full of passages about our inheritance. In fact, Paul just talked about it a few verses back: “In we have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:11). Or Col. 1:12, “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Peter also shares similarly: “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). And the author of Hebrews: “Therefore is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15).
But that doesn’t seem to be what Paul is saying here. “His glorious inheritance in the saints.” His is referring to God, the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wait… you and I are seen as an inheritance? Needy, sinful us?! Inheritance is worthy stuff. Valuable stuff. Paul, aren’t you being a little egotistical here?
No, actually he’s not. But before you start feeling too good about yourself, we need to bring some other important Scripture to bear on this:
1) Read 1 Pet. 2:9-10, and see why God chose us: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Was it because of anything good in us? Was it to make a name for ourselves? No! He showed us great mercy by rescuing us from our sin in order that we might proclaim His excellencies.
2) Read also 2 Tim. 2:9: “ who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
Nothing we did or would do or will do earns us this position as an inheritance. It is all because of His purpose and grace!
So, yes, we truly are God’s inheritance. He actually delights in us as His treasured possession! But the reason for this is nothing inherently special in us. It is all because of His gracious work of placing us in Christ, His beloved Son.
This is good news! It means we don’t have to wonder if we are gifted enough or spiritual enough or any other measure we place on ourselves. God accepts us because He chose us from the foundation of the world. He put His love on us out of the good pleasure of His will, and placed in us His beloved Son.
Oh, that we might delight in the riches of this glorious reality!
We are His treasured inheritance.
Let’s pray for one another this week, that we would truly believe this, and live in light of the joy and peace and security it brings. ❤️🙏🏼
